Method of and apparatus for production of raised patterns on fabrics



ug l, 1939. WELT 2,167,819

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCTION OF RAISED PATTERNS ON FABRICS Filed May 19, 1937 2 Sheets-Shet 1 INVEN TOR KARL WELTI.

A TTOE'IVE Y5 Aug. 1, 1939. K. WELT! 9 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FRODUCTIQN 0F RAISED PATTERNS ON FABRICS Filed May 19, 1957 2 Shee cs-Sheet 2 INVENTOK KARL WELTI s W PWW A T TOIFNE VS Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Karl Welti, Glasgow, Scotland Application May 19, 1937, Serial No. 143,633 In Germany September 23, 1936 18 Claims.

The invention relates to the imparting of patterns to fabrics, more particularly webs of fabric, and refers to a method of producing raised patterns on fabrics and also to an apparatus for performing the method. The fundamental idea of the invention consists in imparting to the fabric raised patterns of a not entirely definite form, but causing the form of pattern once produced to be quite uniform as regards nature, size and distribution over the entire web of fabric, so that the complete web of fabric will have imparted thereto a pattern which in every respect is uniform and equal throughout. According to the invention, this is accomplished in particularly simple fashion substantially by the fact that the fabric, over a certain part of its path, is bunched together with merely slight possibility of yielding movement vertically to the path, and the small corrugations and folds thus formed are caused permanently to retain their form by methods and means similar toan iron ing operation.

For this purpose the fabric is pressed against a heating track and is conducted to the latter at a speed which is greater than that at which it leaves the same, the pattern effect produced by the bunching together permanently retaining its form after leaving the heating track on account of a kind of ironing process. Owing to the fact that both the rate of introduction as well as the rate of discharge may be exactly regulated it may be ensured that the formation of the corrugations takes place perfectly evenly, so that there is also obtained the ensurity that if these differences are maintained the formation of the corrugations will be of a uniform nature as regards form, size and distribution over the entire web.

A carrier belt or backing may conveniently also be conducted together with the web of fabric over the heating track, in such fashion, however, that in relation to the heating track it is situated towards the outside. Immediately after leaving the heating track, however, separation is again performed between the fabric and the carrier belt, in order that the latter will not be able to impair the production of the pattern along the free path of movement. In order to enhance the effect the fabric is preferably moistened before being conducted to the heating track, after the formation of the raised pattern along the heating track the subsequent treatment may take place along the usual lines, i. e., the fabric may be completely dried, or dyed or otherwise treated.

The method accordingly proceeds substantially in such fashion that the fabric is conducted to the heating track, for example with the aid of a conveying roller, at the end of which track there is performed by any suitable means a certain bunching together of the web of fabric which causes the corrugations to be produced along the heating track. When the pattern has reached a certain measure of the heating track there will occur a pressure of material at the point of discharge, which ultimately is suflicient to overcome the bunching effect to such extent 10 that the patterned fabric leaves the heating track at a certain speed. This rate of discharge, however, must always remain smaller than the rate of introduction. At the same time a certain pressure may then be exerted by the bunching 15 device on the web of fabric leaving the heating track and having had corrugations imparted thereto by reason of the previous bunching action, in order in this way to impress the corrugations particularly effectively in the fabric. 20

Additional features of the invention are disclosed by the following description, the claims and the drawings.

For carrying out the method there may conveniently be employed the apparatus illustrated 25 by way of example in the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus according to the broken line I-I in Fig. 2, and

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through 30 the apparatus according to the line IIII in Fig. 1.

In a frame I produced, for example, from sectional iron there is mounted to be rotatable on a transverse 2 with the aid of bearing jaws 3 a so heated drum or roller 4. This receives its drive from an electro-motor 5 (Fig. 2) by way of an intermediate gear 6, which sets into operation a chain 1 running over a sprocket wheel 8 of the drum 4. 40

In the frame I there is also mounted on a bracket 9 (Fig. 1) a lever ii] carrying a roller l l, which bears against the drum 4. This roller II is set into rotation at a certain speed by way of toothed gearing l2, E3 (the lever carrying the 4.5 roller H is naturally provided at both ends of the roller I l in order to provide a better support) On a bracket M on the opposite side of the machine there is mounted a second lever l5 carrying an additional roller it, which likewise con- 50 tacts with the periphery of the drum. This roller, however, is not driven, and its shaft Ill, to which it is firmly secured, is extended beyond the frame and furnished there with a handwheel it, so that the circumferential velocity of the roller it, caused 55 by the rotation of the drum 4, may be reduced by releasing the handwheel to greater or smaller extent. In place of the handwheel there could also be furnished a brake capable of adjustment for different braking effect on the shaft I1, and accordingly on the roller IS.

The two levers I0 and I5 carrying the rollers II and I6 are extended towards the centre. To the arms I9, 20 there are connected rods 2|, 22 which, conducted downwards, terminate in turnbuckles 23, 24. The opposite ends of the turnbuckles are connected to levers 25, 26, which are mounted on the machine frame at 2'1, 28 and the free ends of which carry weights 29, as, so that by way of the turnbuckles 23, 24 and the rods 2|, 22 the rollers H and I6 are pressed with a certain pressure against the drum 4 corresponding to the size of the weights.

As shown particularly clearly in Fig. 2, there is provided outside of the machine frame on a vertical shaft 3| a handwheel 32, by the rotation of which there may be lifted to a greater or smaller extent a nut 34 which is mounted on the lever and furnished with the thread 33. The nut is connected by way of a crank arm 35 with a shaft 36 mounted in the frame, so that upon rotation of the handwheel 32 the shaft 35 may be rocked accordingly. On the shaft 36, preferably at both ends, there are provided in engagement with the double arrangement of the weighted levers 25, 2t crank arms 3? and 38, which are connected to rods 39 and 40 passing vertically upwards, which upon the rotation of the handwheel 32 may be lifted or lowered corresponding to the resulting rocking movement of the shaft 36. These rods 35! and 4c are furnished with transversely projecting pins 4| and 42, which in the normal position according to Fig. 1 are situated just below the weighted levers 25 and 26. Uponthe lifting of the rods 39, 49 the levers 25 and 26 are accordingly raised by way of the transverse pins 4! and 42, so that at first the rollers H and I5 are relieved, while upon an additional lifting movement the rollers H and i6 are caused to be lifted completely clear from the drum 4.

On the upper transverse 43 of the machine frame a rod 46 is arranged to be adjustable in height by means of handwheels 44 and threaded spindles 45. On this rod there are mounted side by side wires 4?, which in Fig. 1 of the drawings are indicated by double-dotted and dash lines. These wires run from the rod 46 under the bearing shafts for the levers Ill, between the roller and the drum 4, under the bearing shaft for the lever 55, and finally over guide rollers 48 to weights 49, which are suspended freely downwards, so that the wires are conducted with a certain tension over the periphery of the drum 4 dependent on the size of the weights. In this connection it is desirable to furnish the rollers II and H; with grooves (not shown) corresponding to the number of wires, so that these wires will not be pressed too strongly into the periphery of the drum 4.

Finally, there is also provided on the frame a an additional roller 58 over which, in the manner described later, there is conducted a carrier belt for the web of fabric to be treated, in such fashion that soon after the passage of the carrier belt through the pass between the roller l6 and the drum 4 the carrier belt is separated from the web of fabric. This drum 5!? is also preferably heated.

Finally, there is provided on the machine frame on the side opposite to the drum 5!) a bearing 5| for receiving the rolled web of fabric 52 to be treated, and preferably also a bearing 53 for a likewise rolled, carrier belt or carrier 54, in such fashion that this portion, or its bearing 53 respectively, is situated below the bearing 5| for the web of fabric, 1. e., that this carrier belt 54 is located underneath the web of fabric on the drum 4.

The operation of this machine is as follows:

The rolled web of fabric 52 is placed in the bearing 5|; a carrier belt 54 likewise rolled, for example a light muslin fabric or a fabric furnished with special weaving effects, is placed in the bearing 53. These two webs are applied to the periphery of the drum 4, in such a manner that there rests first on the periphery of the drum the carrier belt 54 and on the latter the web of fabric 52, and over these two layers there is then passed a carrier belt 51, which remains permanently in the machine. The rollers II and I6 are at this moment still lifted, for which purpose the handwheel 32 has previously been turned accordingly in order by Way of the rods 39 and 40 and the transverse pins 4| and 42 to lift the weighted levers 25, 26, and accordingly the rods 2|, 22. In this way the wires 41 passing from the rod 4| over the periphery of the drum 4 are also released to such extent that the web of fabric with the two carrier belts can be properly applied. If necessary, the tension of the wires must be reduced to such extent at this moment by the lifting of the weights 49 that proper application of the web is capable of being accomplished. When these preparations have been completed the handwheel 32 is turned until the transverse pins 42 and 4| have fully released the weighted levers 25 and 26, so that these, through the medium of the rods 2|, 22, now press the rollers II and I6 against the drum, or the webs of material on the drum. When now the electro-motor 5 is set into operation there will be driven by way of the intermediate gear 6 the drum 4 and at the same time, by way of the intermediate gear I2, l3, also the roller I l. The roller IS on the other hand is held by the hand-wheel l8, so that a feed cannot take place at this point. On the other hand, proceeding from the roller I, the webs, i. e., the lower carrier belt, the web of fabric and the upper carrier belt, are moved forwards corresponding to the circumferential velocity of the roller II. Since, however, they are unable to advance at the roller I6 there occurs along the path between the two rollers a bunching together by reason of which the webs are formed into corrugations, the size of which depends on the extent of pressure of the wires situated thereover or on their distance from the drum 4. It is accordingly possible to produce larger or smaller corrugations by varying the size of the weights 49. Along the path between the roller II and the roller IS the moistened, bunched and corrugated web of fabric is pressed by the wires for a certain period against the hot drum. In this way there occurs a kind of ironing operation, which fixes the corrugations. This ironing of the corrugations is also assisted by the outlet roller I6, which is capable of particularly pressing the moist warm corrugations.

When a certain length of the webs has been introduced by the roller into the path leading to the roller Hi, there will result at this roller IS a certain pressure which will cause the braked roller l6 also to revolve, so that the web of fabric is then able to leave the track at this point.

Usually the braking and release of the roller I6 7 will be performed by actuation of the handwheel by the workman supervising the running of the machine. Naturally the operation in question of the roller may also take place automatically or by mechanical control. By the breaking and release by means of the handwheel I8 the circumferential velocity of the roller l6 may be so regulated that in continuous operation the webs, corresponding to the desired corrugations, leave the track at a lower speed than that at which they are introduced into the same. After leaving they pass between the roller l6 and the drum 4 the upper conjointly moving portion 51 is quickly lifted from the fabric by the drum 50. Since the fabric was moistened before introduction into the machine, the carrier belt 51 will also have absorbed a certain amount of moisture. Owing to the fact, that the drum 5!] is heated it can be ensured that the carrier belt is again rapidly dried. It is, however, also possible to employ other drying means. The carrier belt 57 is then conducted over a guide sheet 53, which is provided in the machine between the frame uprights l, and finally over a tensioning device 59, and is then again passed to the drum together with the wires 47 under the shaft of the lever iii. The web of fabric 52 with the lower carrier belt Ei i falls on the other hand on to a guide sheet 6!], which is likewise mounted in the machine, and then collects in the lower trough SI of this sheet, from where the fabric can be taken away.

Since the wires are permanently stationary they are naturally subjected to a certain wear by the webs of fabric continuously moving past. In order to provide compensation provision is made, by rotation of the handwheel 4A, for a greater or smaller lifting or lowering of the threaded spindle t5, and accordingly of the rods 46, in order after a certain period of operation to move another portion of the wires into the range of the pressure or friction point.

It is preferable, and in numerous cases necessary, to provide a distending or stretching device of a desired kind at the point of introduction of the webs of fabric, at least in conjunction with the web of fabric to be treated. A similar distending or stretching device lit may, however, alsc be provided in conjunction with the lower carrier belt 54.

It may also be desirable to furnish the rollers El and 56 with elevations in order to impart merely partial feed or to hold back and press the web of fabric. In addition the rollers can be heated for the purpose of producing particular effects. To increase the pressure area there may also be furnished a plurality of rollers corresponding to the rollers l l and ill, or there may be employed a cloth of rubber or the like placed over the two rollers for example similar to a conveying belt.

Other modifications are also readily conceivable within the scope of the invention.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in What manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. In a method of producing raised patterns on fabric, the step which consists in'positively feeding the fabric to a heated track at a speed which is greater than that at which the fabric is discharged from the said track by applying braking action against the fabric near the point of discharge by two cooperating rollers and imparting a lesser surface speed to one roller relative to the other roller so as to cause the fabric to bunch together between the points of feed and discharge, and subjecting the fabric to an ironing operation when in the bunched condition.

2. In a method of producing raised patterns on fabric, the step which consists in positively feeding the fabric together with a carrier belt to a heated track at a speed which is greater than that at which the fabric is discharged from the said track by applying braking action against the fabric near the point of discharge by two cooperating rollers and imparting a lesser surface speed to one roller relative to the other roller so as to cause the fabric to bunch together between the points of feed and discharge, subjecting the fabric to an ironing operation when in the bunched condition, and causing the said carrier belt to separate from the fabric immediately after leaving the said heating track, the said carrier belt being situated on the side of the fabric away from the said heating track.

3. In a method of producing raised patterns on fabric, the step which consists in positively feeding the fabric between two carrier belts to a heated track at a speed which is greater than that at which the fabric is discharged from the said track by applying braking action against tr e fabric near the point of discharge so as to cause the fabric to bunch together between the points of feed and discharge, subjecting the fabric to an ironing operation when in the bunched condition,

and causing the carrier belt situated on the side of the fabric away from the said heating track to separate from the fabric after leaving the track, the second carrier belt situated between the fabric and the heating tracl; continuing to remain with the fabric after it leaves the said track.

4. A method of producing raised patterns on fabric, which consists in moistening the fabric, positively feeding the fabric to a heated track at a speed which is greater than that at which the fabric is discharged from the said track by applying braking action against the fabric near the point of discharge by two cooperating rollers and imparting a lesser surface speed to one roller rel= ative to the other roller, so as to cause the fabric to bunch together between the points of feed and discharge, subjecting the fabric to an ironing operation when in the bunched condition,

discharging the fabric from the said track, and

thereupon treating the said fabric in any desired fashion.

5. In an apparatus for producing raised patterns on fabric, a heated revolving drum, a driven feed roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum for positively feeding said fabric to the heated drum, and a discharge rcller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum, said discharge roller having less surface speed than said drum.

6. In an apparatus for producing raised patterns on fabric, a heated revolving drum, a driven feed roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum for positively feeding said fabric to the heated drum, and a non-driven discharge roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum and having less surface speed than said drum.

'7. In an apparatus for producing raised patterns on fabric, a heated revolving drum, a driv- 1 i: ii

drum, and means for imparting a desired braking action to the said discharge roller causing crumpiing of the fabric.

8. In an apparatus for producing raised patterns on fabric, a heated revolving drum, a driven feed roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum for positively feeding said fabric to the heated drum, a discharge roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum, levers supporting the said rollers with the one end and mounted in the frame of the apparatus, and weights loading the said levers at their opposite ends.

9. In an apparatus for producing raised patterns on fabric, a heated revolving drum, a driven feed roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum for positively feeding said fabric to the heated drum, a discharge roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum, levers supporting the said rollers with the one end and directed towards the center of the apparatus, weights loading the said levers at their inwardly directed ends, and a connecting rod for lifting the said rollers away from the said drum.

10. In an apparatus for producing raised patterns on fabric, a heated revolving drum, a driven feed roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum, a discharge roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum in spaced relation relative to the said first roller to form a heating track for the fabric between the said rollers, means for pressing the said rollers against the said drum, at least one web adapted to accompany the fabric over the said heating track, wires disposed in the direction of movement of the fabric for pressing the said web against the said track, and means for lifting the said rollers from the said drum.

11. In an apparatus for producing raised patterns on fabric, a heated revolving drum, a driven feed roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum, a discharge roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum in spaced relation relative to the said first roller to form a heating track for the fabric between the said rollers, means for pressing the said rollers against the said drum, at least one web adapted to accompany the fabric over the said heating track, wires of variable tension disposed in the direction of movement of the fabric for pressing the said web against the said track, and means for lifting the said rollers from the said drum.

12. In an apparatus for producing raised patterns on fabric, a heated revolving drum, a driven feed roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum, a discharge roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum in spaced relation relative to the said first roller to form a heating track for the fabric between the said roller, means for pressing the said roller against the said drum, at least one web adapted to accompany the fabric over the said heating track, longitudinally adjustable wires disposed in the direction of movement of the fabric for pressing the said web against the said track, and means for lifting the said rollers from the said drum.

13. In an apparatus for producing raised patterns on fabric, a heated revolving drum, a driven feed roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum, a discharge roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum in spaced relation relative to the said first roller to form a heating track for the fabric between the said rollers, means for pressing the said rollers against the said drum, at least one web adapted to accompany the fabric over the said heating track, wires disposed in the direction of movement of the fabric for pressing the said web against the said track, an adjustable rod to which the said wires are secured side by side at their one end, weights loading the said Wires at their opposite ends, and means for lifting the said rollers from the said drum.

14. In an apparatus for producing raised patterns on fabric, a heated revolving drum, a driven grooved feed roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum, a grooved discharge roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum in spaced relation relative to the said first roller to form a heating track for the fabric between the said rollers, means for pressing the said rollers against the said drum, at least one web adapted to accompany the fabric over the said heating track, wires disposed in the direction of movement of the fabric and running in the grooves in the said feed and discharge rollers for pressing the said web against the said track, and means for lifting the said rollers from the said drum.

15. In an apparatus for producing raised patterns on fabric, a heated revolving drum, a driven feed roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum, a discharge roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum in spaced relation relative to the said first roller to form a heating track for the fabric between the said rollers, means for pressing the said rollers against the said drum, at least one web constructed as an endless belt and adapted to accompany the fabric over the said heating track, wires disposed in the direction of movement of the fabric for pressing the said web against the said track, the said web being disposed on the track between the said wires and the said fabric, and means for lifting the said rollers from the said drum.

16. In an apparatus for producing raised patterns on fabrics, a heated revolving drum, a driven feed roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum, a discharge roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum'in spaced relation relative to the said first roller to form a heating track for the fabric between the said rollers, means for pressing the said rollers against the said drum, at least one web adapted to accompany the fabric over the said heating track and disposed on the side of the fabric away from the said heating track, a tensioning device for the said web situated in front of the said feed roller, a rapidly moving, preferably heated roller for the said web situated behind the said discharge roller, and means for lifting the said feed and discharge rollers from the said drum.

17. In an apparatus for producing raised pat- I terns on fabric, a heated revolving drum, a driven feed roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum for positively feeding said fabric to the heated drum, a discharge roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum and having less surface speed than the drum, whereby the feeding of the fabric is greater than the speed at which the fabric is discharged by the said discharge roller, means for pressing the said rollers against said drum, and means for lifting said slower running roller from the said drum.

18. In an apparatus for producing raised patterns on fabric, a heated revolving drum, a driven feed roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of the said drum for positively feeding said fabric to said heated drum, a discharge roller for the fabric bearing against the periphery of situated in front of the said feed roller.

KARL WELTI. 

